The NYT reported on a group, supported by Monsanto, which is trying to make it illegal for milk and other dairy products to be labeled as coming from cows who were not fed synthetic growth hormones. The groups claims that it is defending "members’ right to use recombinant bovine somatotropin, also known as rBST or rBGH, an artificial hormone that stimulates milk production." While the article emphasizes the groups ties to Monsanto, which makes the hormone in question, it does not point out the inaccuracy of the group's basic claim. There are no laws that would prevent the members of this group from using synthetic growth hormone or selling it in the United States. Nor are any likely to be seriously considered any time soon. The issue is that many consumers do not want to buy dairy products that were produced by cows that were fed with synthetic growth hormone. The Monsanto backed group is trying to deny consumers the right to choose what goes into their milk, by preventing farmers who do not use growth hormones from labeling their product this way. The issue here is the ability of the Monsanto group to restrict freedom of speech and consumer choice. It is inaccurate and dishonest to describe it as a question of the farmers' freedom to use growth hormone. The NYT should have made this fact clear to readers.
--Dean Baker
